GIFT OF GIVING - SMALL IS GOOD

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

You know that saying "good things come in small packages" which is the opposite of "the bigger, the better". Well, it literally means the size of things, doesn't always indicate the quality.

CROCHET GIFT BAGS

With this thought in mind, I've come up with these precious little gift bags for those precious little gifts like jewellery, airline tickets, diamonds, gold nuggets! Well, a girl has to have dreams. Right?

The crochet patterns for these three (3) bags are really easy, and they take no time at all, you could have a bag load by the end of the week. 

You can adjust the pattern and make whatever size you desire AND you can adapt the pattern to different yarn weights and hook sizes.

Try it and see, make them wider, longer, bigger if you wish.

I have laid out the basics and it's up to you to play and have fun!

PEARL GIFT BAG Free Crochet Pattern

PATTERN DETAILS:
Skill Level:  Easy
Yarn:  DMC Petra 5
Hook:  2.5mm
Stitches:  hdc, dc
Gauge/Tension:  not critical for this pattern
Measurements:  4in (10cm) L X 2.5in (6.5cm) W
Terminology:  USA - American crochet terms

USA - American Crochet Terms		UK - British Crochet Terms
Ch = chain
sc = single crochet		dc =double crochet
hdc = half double crochet		htr = half treble crochet
dc = double crochet		tr = treble crochet
tr = treble crochet		dtr = double treble crochet
dtr = double treble		ttr = triple treble
sl st = slip stitch
st/sts = stitch/es
cont = continue
rep = repeat
rnd = round
beg = begin/beginning
yo = yarn over	yrh = yarn round hook
FDC = foundationless double crochet	FTR = foundationless treble crochet
Esc = extended single crochet	Edc = extended double crochet
BL = back loop	blo = back loop only
FL = front loop	flo = front loop only
BPdc = back post double crochet	rtrb = raised treble back
FPdc = front post double crochet	rtrf = raised treble front
Abbreviations List ©2015  Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.  All rights reserved.

START of PATTERN

Rnd 1:  With MC, Ch13, 3sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in each st to end, 5sc in last ch, sc in each st along the other side of ch, 2sc in same st as beg 3sc, join with sl st. (30sts)

Rnd 2:  Ch2, hdc in BL of same st, *hdc in FL of next st, hdc in BL of next st, rep from * around, miss last st, join with sl st.  

Rnd 3-12:  Rep Rnd 2.

DRAWSTRING RND

Rnd 13:  Ch3, dc in each st around, join with sl st.

INCREASE RND

Rnd 14:  Ch1, sc in same st, *2sc in next st, sc in next 4sts, rep from * around, join with sl st.  (36sts)

Rnd 15-17:  Rep Rnd 2.  Change to CC

DECORATIVE EDGE

Rnd 18:  *Ch2, 2hdc in same st, skip next st, sl st in next st, rep from *around, join with sl st.

Finish, cut yarn and hide ends.

MAKE DRAWSTRING

With CC, make a chain approx. 14ins long.

With yarn needle thread the drawstring through the drawstring rnd, two (2) dc at a time.  

Hide yarn ends of drawstring.

You can collect the complete set of 

FREE GIFT BAG PATTERNS

 from my online shops

Ravelry AND Craftsy

Enjoy every moment, focus on every stitch,

create a masterpiece.

That's all from me for now, my friends,

ciao, ciao!

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet   www.crocknit.com

Copyright © 2008 Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet. All rights reserved.  All materials contained on this website, including images, are protected by the UK and International Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Barbara Summers. Please CONTACT me at crocknit@gmail.com if you wish to obtain such permission.

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It's CROCHET MAGIC... MAGIC 7

MAGIC COASTER CROCHET

Here is my super special MAGIC coaster, you may ask why is it magic?  Well, because it is based on multiples of seven (7). Yes that's right a crochet coaster with not six (6) and not eight (8) but seven (7) multiples.

I tried real hard to fit it into 6 or 8 multiples, but it kept insisting on being a SEVEN. So, I gave in and stayed with it,  forced myself to add some colours and was amazed at the outcome. Hope you like it too?

This is a great little coaster which would suit any celebration, CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR, EASTER and SPECIAL OCCASIONS. 

You can change the mood by changing the colours, and end up with an amazing variety of coasters created from one crochet pattern.

MAGIC Coasters could just be the perfect gift for giving, maybe this Christmas?

QUICK and EASY crochet coasters for your celebrations - make your coasters with one, two, or three colours to bring out a variety of patterns within the one coaster.

POINT OF INTEREST:   

Did you know in the human brain, seven is a magic number?

Countless psychological experiments have shown that, on average, the longest sequence a normal person can recall on the fly contains about seven items. This limit, which psychologists dubbed the "magical number seven" when they discovered it in the 1950s, is the typical capacity of what's called the brain's working memory.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news178220995.html#jCp

PATTERN DETAILS:

• Skill Level:  Easy 
• Yarn:  DMC Petra 5 or similar yarn
• Hook:  2mm
• Stitches: single, half double and double crochet
• Gauge/Tension:  Not crucial
• Measurements:  approx. 4in (10cm) diameter
• Terminology:  USA - American crochet terms

MAGIC COASTER Crochet Pattern

is available  from my online shops

Ravelry      Craftsy

Do come and have a play with the

MAGIC COASTER Crochet Pattern

use as many colours or as few as you dare!

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to explore my other coaster crochet patterns 

which are listed below

Enjoy!
Ciao, ciao!

Copyright © 2008

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.

All rights reserved.

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Quick Easy Christmas Crochet Gifts

Quick, Easy Christmas Crochet Gifts

Are you thinking of Christmas giving? Do you want to make it special? Then give the gift of HAND MADE. You can make these super quick and easy crochet gifts!

*  Crochet Hats SWEET and DUDE  *

*  Crochet Scarf  SHADOW  *

*  Crochet Slippers TRAVELLER with Heart or Flower*

*  Crochet Mittens COUNTRY  *

*  Crochet Mittens SHELLS  *

A total of eight (8) simply perfect crochet patterns available in one (1) eBook, so you can crochet your Christmas gifts quick smart before the ***snow falls***

HOTCHPOTCH Crochet Gifts eBOOK

IS AVAILABLE FROM MY ONLINE SHOPS

Ravelry       Craftsy

Enjoy every moment,

focus on every stitch,

create a masterpiece....

ciao, ciao...

CROCHET INSPIRATION from the HIGHLANDS of Scotland

HIGHLANDS SECRET

We had an awesome wonderful two (2) weeks of exploration and relaxation in remote Ardnamurchan land, a 50-square-mile (130 km2) peninsula in the West Highlands, and here we found the most westerly point of mainland Great Britain, Corrachadh Mòr.

In the photo above I am wearing my Scottish highlands inspired crochet hat/neckwarmer, while exploring the ruins of Castle Tioram. I designed it especially with an opening at the crown where a drawstring brings the opening together and closes for a hat, or your could leave it open a bit for your bun or ponytail to poke out the top. I simply wear it as a hat or totally open wide the crown and wear it as a neckwarmer. Simple really.

I can truly say I have been inspired by the colours of the highlands, it's rugged landscapes and in places the lush growth of mossy, fern-rich woodlands. 

These magnificient colours of the highlands especially during the end of autumn were truly magical.

Now we are back I am keen to get into some serious crocheting after a day or two of rest.

Unfortunately, I am totally committed to a crochet submission project for DMC, and until that is finalized there is definitely no time to spare for any pattern designing or writing for my website or blog.  

In the meantime, you can always view my free patterns here for those great crochet winter accessories which are always perfect for Christmas gift giving.

Also you could check my Scottish inspired patterns listed below.

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YOU MAY LIKE THESE SCOTTISH INSPIRED PATTERNS:

PERFECT CROCHET HEART PATTERN

For all lovers of hearts...
makers of heart garlands, heart bunting, heart keyrings, heart motifs, heart applique, heart decorations.....

You can PURCHASE the  PATTERN from my online shops

PATTERN AVAILABLE NOW 

FROM

CRAFTSY            RAVELRY

Ciao, Ciao....
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CROCHET GIFTS for BABY

Rainbow delight

Here's a special little treat, I made this for my little CC when I returned from down-under.

Made to match the Crochet Baby Blanket RAINBOW

YOU CAN MAKE IT TOO

super quick and easy

use this pattern

TROPO CROCHET HAT PATTERN

available from my online shops

Ravelry           Craftsy

AND

best of all the mittens pattern

IS NOW ALSO AVAILABLE

LOOK FOR 

RAINBOW Crochet Mittens

enjoy, ciao, ciao....

QUIET CROCHET

THIS TOO... WILL CHANGE.... 

RETURN FROM DOWNUNDER

I am back...

Last cuddle with CC

from down under...  

Crochet Baby Blanket RAINBOW

Last minute DOT crochet...  yes that's right just one week before my flight to Oz I decided to make another baby blanket for my daughter's first born.

QUICK PROJECT
I decided to make it easy on myself and just get something out fast and the only way to do that was to follow Helen Ardley's pattern for a "Snuggle Blanket".

I found the pattern in her book "Cute Crochet for Tiny Tots"... this book was available in my local KENT library.

The pattern is written for Rowan Wool Cotton using a 3.5mm hook; and the measurements are 42 x 58cm (16.5 x 22.25in).
Basically it is a small blanket and made with a Rowan yarn I had already used for my other baby blanket (which I will talk about in another blog soon)....  and I wanted this blanket to be different.

YARN CHOICE
I decided to use up my stash of Bendigo Woollen Mills "Cotton 8ply"... a few years ago Bendigo carried a range of colours in this beautiful soft cotton... and of course I managed to purchase at most 2 x 200g balls in each colour.... so obviously I had a good range of colours to choose from... hence the 12 colour blanket.

Unfortunately today the same colours are no longer available; however they still provide a nice selection of 10 colours... check it out here.

IN LOVE WITH BENDIGO
From the first time I used this cotton yarn I fell in love with it... it is just so soft... and at the time when I started using the yarn there was no other yarn on the market that even came close to the softness of this cotton yarn by Bendigo Woollen Mills.

You may know this yarn by it's other name "HEIRLOOM" Cotton 8ply which is available in 50g balls.

However, buying direct from the mill is a more economical purchase and you get the bonus of 200g balls which are perfect for larger projects.

RAINBOW BLANKET
Materials:  Heirloom/Bendigo Cotton 8ply in 12 colours
I used my stash of 200g balls in each colour.
If you use 50g balls I estimate approximately 1 to 1.5 x 50g balls of each colour; depending on size of blanket, and your tension/gauge.
Hook:  4mm
Size:  86.4 x 86.4cm (34 x 34in) (excluding the edging)
Tension/Gauge:  2.5 fans/shells over 10cm (4in)
The pattern is written in British Crochet terms, but it is easy to follow and easy to convert to US Crochet terms.

and there you have it... a "simply perfect" colourful baby blanket in rainbow colours... and what's even better is .... you can wash this cotton blanket in the washing machine... on a quick gentle wash... so perfect for new mums who may not have the time to wash by hand.

All you have to do is head off to your local library and borrow the book or purchase your own copy... the book includes a good number of easy crochet projects for your baby and toddler... and all worth trying...  I myself may have to revisit this book.... I enjoyed this blanket project so much and managed to complete it very quickly... estimate about 20hrs total from start to finish... and that includes 1hr of hiding yarn ends.

GO FOR IT... GIVE IT A TRY... YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED...

Ciao, Ciao...  

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Crochet PATTERNS Drought

NO CROCHET BLOGS FOR A MONTH !

yes I have been too busy crocheting to blog

the month of May was here and now it is gone.

June is upon me 

AND my suitcase is packed for my trip "DOWN UNDER"

for the birth of my first grandchild

I am so excited... woo hoo!

however that's a story for another time,

right here and now let's focus on the crochet!

Month of May was consumed by "secret squirrel" crochet 

for DMC Creative World 

which I can't tell you about until it is published.

AND crocheting for my daughter's first baby, 

WHICH IS yet to be born 

and hopefully it will wait until I arrive. LOL

Naturally, I can't show you what I've crochet for her either

because I want it to be a surprise for her first

so you will have to wait patiently  

for the blog revealing my crochet surprise

end of June.  

Of course, once all these crocheting projects were finished, 

I managed to finish some other projects I had to put aside.

AND NOW I can START TO SHARE with you

Firstly, another one of my favourite 

the "PERFECT MAN" beanie

TRICKSTER Crochet Man Hat

SIZES:  ADULT MEN - S/M/L

SKILL LEVEL:  EASY - INTERMEDIATE

DESCRIPTION:
• Simply perfect crochet hat designed for the man/men in your life. 
• Beanie style with a texture stitch creating an art deco design in the fabric.
• Texture stitch adds extra warmth and elasticity to the fabric of the hat.
• 3D illusion
• Masculine
• Unisex
• Perfect for autumn walks in the woods or along the seafront.

YARN:  
Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed Aran - 85% Wool 15% Angora;   OR any other similar yarn

TECHNIQUES USED:  Front and back post double crochet.

TRICKSTER Crochet Man Hat Pattern 

is available from 

Craftsy          Ravelry

you can shop at your convenience in your favourite store.

Ciao, ciao... 

I am off to enjoy the rest of my day before I fly out this evening, then I will be off-line until I land at the other end 

Tuesday morning Brisbane time. woo hoo!